Tell the PM and political party leaders what you think

Public support and a positive profile are important to all politicians who are constantly assessing the political risk and potential fallout of any decision they make.

As a result, they are always sensitive to unpopular or controversial legislation, so it pays to let them know what your views are!

Write a letter to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and tell her you are unhappy with the threat to trout and your recreational angling posed by the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill.

Also, write letters to the leaders of the other two parties which make up the present coalition government and tell them of your opposition to the Bill.

The leaders of those parties are Winston Peters of New Zealand First and James Shaw or Marama Davidson as co-leaders of the Greens.

If you are a member of the Labour, NZ First or Greens parties, tell the leaders and say that you are unhappy with the way the Amendment Bill threatens trout, your angling and undermines Fish & Game.

If you voted for Labour, NZ First or the Greens, tell the leaders you have supported them in the past but warn they can’t count on your vote if the Amendment Bill goes through as it presently stands.

The National Party is the main Opposition party, so write to National’s leader Simon Bridges and tell him of your unhappiness with the Amendment Bill and ask him to change it.

Sending a letter to the party leaders is easy and you don’t have to buy a stamp to do it as any correspondence to a politician is free of charge.